The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-10-14
lddntopar Proceedings Of III. Knights Of Labor.
REPORT OF MIR. PowDERLY.

print. II was received BY the delegates
He congratulate ted the Knights that TN
present body WAS only hall as large a
that which assembled at Richmond
There followed a detailed account OF tn.
part the Knights played a year ago in tn
trouble between the pork and beef packers
OF Chicago and their employees. As to tn;
reason why the strike was declared off h
said.
Ispent hours in working an estimate 0
What ii would cost TO support the nuIncr
GUS momhers who were thrown on OUl
hands, and became satisfied that if th'
VariOu5 troubles lasted for any length o
time we would require at least $500, 900
] knew hat We did not have that amount
to spend, and I also knew that
il an assessment was levied on the
order it would be the the signal for an
attack on the general executive board
! knew that no strike or stOppage O
work ever get took place that the cry iOI
financial asaistance did not go up as sOOD
as the strike was inaugurated. | knew
that with %, 900 more to take care o.
many OF whom were not m8mbers, We
would require from 500, 900 TO $20o,O OO
to carry on the struggle, and with thu
many troubles on hand l was confident
that we would fail.
! believe that the men Of the stock yard
should work but eight hours; | believe
that all laboriHg men should work but
more than eight hours; but before n move
is made in that direction we should care.
fully consider the interests OF all cOnCerned,
as well as the prospects Of success for the
undertaking.
In regard to the Chicago anarchists, Mr.
POwderly says: II these men did not have
a fair trial, such az Is guaranteed every
man in the United States, then they SHOULD
be granted a new trial. II they have not
been found guilty OF murder they SHOULD
not be hanged. II they are to be hangeC
for the actions OF others it is not inst
The man who threw the bomb in Chicago
should be hanged and his accompIices
should receive the punishment allotted
to such o~iienses by the laws OF the state
OF Illinois. Before the public | have
never said a word concerning these
men. have never felt called upon to say
anything, for it is none OF my business; yet
some OF their friends have put words oil
condemnation in my mouth in order to
have me say something in their favor. J
allowed it to go, as the many ialse reports
concerning me went unnoticed. / felt that
il they could stand it | could.
Then follows a lot Of correspondence be.
tween POwderly and representatives OF tbs
order In Chicago, in which he stoutly pro.
tests against allowing any anarChistic reso.
lutions TO pass district or local assemblies
or appropriating any money to defray the
expenses oil the anarchists trial. In one
Of Mr.. Powderly's letters appears this
strong language:
] write to you, as master workman Of
your district, TO say hat these things are
wrong. They are in direct conflict with the
fundamental law Of the order. Every dele
gate TO a district assembly knows that he
is TO teach to the locals that this order is
an army OF peace. 1t follows that
violence on the part of members or non
members cannot, must not, be approved
or excused. For years in the city oiChica-
so the adherpnts OF the anarchists cause
have maligned, opposed and insulted the
order OF the Knights OF Labor. No matter
how much we may s%ympathize with them
as fellow. beings; n matter how we may
feel as to the iltegality OF the trial by which
they we're condemned to death; no matter
though the police had committed ain un,
Warrantable act OF interference and pre-.
eipitated a conflict on the 4th OF May; no
matter hit be true that public clamor, the
frenzy OF the hour and the passions aroused
by the m-adyised actions OF the men who
shed the likelihood OF their fellow-men, cad
created a sentiment which had more to do
with reaching a verdict than the evidence
which was presented to the jury, il still re,
mains a fixed fact that the order OF the
knights Of Labor is not responsible foI
such actions as these. As individuals wa
may express our feelings as we please, but
as knights OF Labor we must not commit
the order, or any part Of il, to the teach.
ings OF the anarchist.
The master workman introduced his
- ~s-.. - -A.- =. 49, .saI 49,
quest thatthey begiren more consideration
thar those he has made to past assemble
received. He recommends q united
effort to secure from congress Inc estabIish.
OF a department OF labor
with a cabinet member. He strongly adj
yocates the owning ami operating OF
telephones and railroads
by the government, and alludes to AL
tampering with the election r%eturns
ia the last national election as q strons
argument. He argues the matter at some
He considers these two the most
important matters to be urged on con.
gress. He emphasizes the necessity foI
and urges that the order should
have q journal that is read by every mem.
Der.
When the last general assembly adjourn.
cd the officers were attacked in a most
NAo&A01 AAAttttANA ny nNttnG ~ LuOHt HuO vert /
present at the general assembly. + be.
heve that this general assembly should re.
buke such conduct, and do it in such 4
way % to leave no doubt on the minds oil
thoes who seek revenge for insults.
or fancied insults, through the
columns Of the public press. / believe
that the evil deeds OF prominent members
Of the general assembly who have beld III
officers up to the public ridicule and
scorns should be known to@the order
The public press has no business
With our internal differences. sin.
cerely hope that there viii be no occasion
for the exercise Of any feeling such a. wac
manifested In the last general assembly
and that the Bcenes which followed tbe
Richmond session will not be re- enacted.
Mr.. Powderly repeats his protest
against the expulsion Of the cigarsmakars
and his opinion that the resolution pasaad
AZ the lsstsassss.ksiiy Was unconstitutional
He advocates the adoption ola universal
benefit plan.
II the present incumbent is not the man
% inspire that confidence no will cheerfuIlv
give away to the mar OF yonr choice. II 4
true that ] WAS elected Tor two years ~.
1ether with my brother officers, butI waive
al right which | may have 10 that dlrec.
ti0n. Isis general assembly Il hfoba~Tbm~